A good fence starts long before the first post hole. If you’re planning a new fence for next season, the decisions you make now — where it goes, how tall it is, what it’s made of — decide how happy you’ll be with it for years to come. Here’s the checklist we walk through with homeowners before every quote.
1. Find Your Property Line
Dig out your survey or lot plan. It shows where your property ends, and it’s the single most useful document for a fence quote. If the fence will sit right on the line, the location matters to your neighbour too. If you’re not sure where the line is, a survey is cheaper than moving a fence.
2. Check Your City’s Fence Rules
Every municipality sets its own fence rules: maximum heights for front and back yards, sightlines on corner lots, and stricter rules for pool enclosures. Always check the official by-law for your city before you decide on height. For Niagara, we’ve linked each city’s official page in our fence rules guide. In Toronto, fences are covered by Municipal Code Chapter 447, Fences.
3. Talk to Your Neighbour
A fence on a shared line is a shared project. Agree on height, style and who pays before anyone books a crew. Our guide on who pays for a fence between neighbours in Ontario explains how it works when you can’t agree.
4. Choose the Material
- Pressure-treated wood — the best value and the most common choice for privacy fences.
- Cedar — naturally rot-resistant with a richer look; costs more. See cedar vs pressure-treated.
- Composite — higher price up front, but no staining and no rot. See wood vs composite.
5. Pick the Height and Style
For a backyard privacy fence, most people choose the tallest height their city allows. Style is about looks and privacy: solid board fences block the view completely, shadow-box styles let some air through, and a lattice top adds height and a lighter look. Browse ideas in our privacy fence styles guide.
6. Plan Your Gates
Gates are the part of a fence you use every day, so think about what has to go through them: a lawn mower, a wheelbarrow, bins, a trailer. A single walk gate is fine for people and a mower; a double gate opens wide for equipment. For a backyard in St. Catharines we built a double gate with a header beam on top — the beam ties the two gate posts together so they don’t lean in over time.
7. Set a Realistic Budget
Fences are priced per linear foot. Measure your fence line, then multiply by the starting price for the material. As of 2026, our pressure-treated wood fences start from $55 per linear foot installed and cedar from $67. A 100 ft backyard run in pressure-treated wood starts from about $5,500, before gates and extras like old fence removal. For a closer look at what moves the price, read how much a fence costs in Toronto and the GTA.
8. Get Your Quote Early
Spring dates go first. Getting your quote in late winter means you can compare options calmly, lock in a date, and leave time for Ontario One Call locates and any permits. Read more about the best time to install a fence in Ontario.
9. Prepare the Yard
- Move plants, furniture, toys and firewood away from the fence line.
- Make sure the crew can reach the backyard through a gate or side yard.
- Keep pets inside on build day.
- Tell us about anything buried that locates won’t find: sprinkler lines, garden lighting, private gas lines to a barbecue or pool heater.
We build fences across the GTA and Niagara. See recent projects or find your city in our service areas.
Ready to plan your fence? Call 437-922-9070 or request a free quote. We measure on site and send a clear, itemized price, usually within 24 hours. No deposit: you pay when the fence is done.
FAQ
What do I need before getting a fence quote?
A rough idea of the length, height and gates you want, and your survey if you have one. We measure everything on site during the free visit.
Do I need a permit for a fence in Ontario?
It depends on your city. Most standard backyard fences that follow the by-law do not need a permit, but pool enclosures and fences over the allowed height often do. Check your municipality’s official by-law.
How much should I budget for a fence?
Measure the fence line and multiply by the price per foot. Our pressure-treated wood fences start from $55 per linear foot installed (2026), cedar from $67. Gates and extras are added on top.
How long will a new wood fence last?
With posts set below the frost line and protected at ground level, and with regular staining, a wood fence can serve you for many years. The posts are usually what fails first, which is why we protect them.
